Tributes have been paid to well-known curator and Borth community councillor, Gwenllian Ashley.

Gwenllian, who was assistant curator at Ceredigion Museum from 1992 to 2010, died at Bronglais Hospital on Friday, 31 May. She was 77.

Paying tribute, Gwenllian’s daughter Ceri said: “My mother’s death is very sad and came as a surprise because she was in good health and fiercely independent, right until the end. She had only just returned from the Venice Biennale.

“It has been a comfort to hear the fondness people have for her, and from a wide range of people. It’s surprising how many people she knew, but hers was a life well and fully lived.”

Stuart Evans who worked with Gwenllian at Ceredigion Museum for almost 20 years said: “She was absolutely wonderful to work with and she brought people together and made things happen.

“Gwenllian was a ‘yes’ person. She was positive, naughty, great fun and made up her own rules!”

Born in Llangeitho, Gwenllian was raised in Capel Bangor and Dole, and went to Ardwyn School.

She trained as a teacher and taught art at Carmarthen College and Coventry University.

Gwenllian also taught art in Uganda in the 1960s and Nigeria in the 1970s.

Following her retirement from Ceredigion Museum, Gwenllian continued to work, curating exhibitions throughout the area.

Jen Jones, of The Welsh Quilt Centre in Lampeter who worked with Gwenllian for more than 20 years, said: “I will miss Gwenllian terribly, we all will. She was an amazing, creative person.

“She stretched herself to the limit and never gave in on anything.”

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